Should Ericsson Be a starter over Lilja/Lebda?

[Spinner 6]

I think wen healthy we should have

Lids

Rafalski

Chelios

Kronner

Stuart

Ericsson

than sitting these 2 bums lebda and lilja..hell Meech should b ahead of them!..thoughts?!

I like Ericsson but don't think he is quite ready. But next year....

I'm not a big Lebda fan, he gave up the puck quite a bit last night. But, Him and Lilja seem to play better when Lids, Ralfs Krons and Cheli are on the ice and they don't have the pressure of being the only defensemen not from G.R.

[egroen 384]

Right now:

Lilja > Lebda > Meech > Quincey > Ericksson

Potential:

Ericksson > Meech > Quincey > Lebda > Lilja

Ericksson made a lot of boneheaded plays out there last night (yes, even more than Lilja); he's not ready. Next year, provided what I am seeing out of Meech right now is not a abberation, I would be happy seeing Meech and Quincey taking over more for Lebda and Lilja. Give Ericksson one more year in the AHL - He needs it!

[RainingBlood 8]

Because overall Meech has looked better than Ericsson in these recent games.

um ok in 28 career games meech is still looking for his 1st goal, it took Ericsson 3 career games to get his 1st goal, which was a beautiful 1 timer. I guess next year we will see who's situation is better on the depth chart.

[egroen 384]

If you take a look at assists, shots and turn overs you will quickly see Meech has been playing better than Ericksson, despite Ericksson's one goal.

Ericksson made a lot of mistakes and looked lost at times. Not ready yet.

[Vladinator 0]

I'd prefer to let Ericsson play quality minutes in the minors rather than have him get 5 minutes of ice time per night (if he's lucky) when everyone is healthy on the Wings...

[Turkey 0]

Ericsson is much better served by playing big minutes in GR. There's no waiver danger to send him on down. Meech, on the other hand, has been a real eye-opener the last few games. This kid is a real gamer. I don't know if he's guaranteed himself a more regular spot but he's definitely pushing our normal starters.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I wouldn't mind seeing Ericsson playing over Lebda. Our defense will look a lot bigger overall with him and Stuart added to the lineup. Besides, even though Lebda is a great skater, he can't do much of anything else. Let's see what this Ericsson kid can do by giving him playoff time much like what Lebda got 2 years ago against Edmonton. I think it's fair to say that back then people thought Lebda would become much better of a player than what he is now. Lebda should become the 8th defenseman.

[Red Winged 8]

If we can get Lilja and Lebda off the ice I'll take almost anyone.

[Seedless 0]

I like Meech over them 2 next year. I also want Meech in the playoffs, but I don't see the Wings riding 8 Dmen, and they'll keep Lilja/Lebda for the playoffs.

As someone else said, they do play a little better when the pressure is off of them, but Meech will still be an upgrade soon enough.

[h2obury 6]

Ericsson is not ready yet but I think Meech should be on the regular line up ahead of Lilja. I think he has earned it the way he has been playing lately he was everywhere last night

[Anomalously 0]

Keep in mind, until the end of the regular season, there are only 23 available roster spots. Cleary is out until April so we can probably assume he won't be back before playoffs. McCarty has to be called up from his conditioning assignment in 2 weeks though. So once everyone but Cleary is healthy, we're going to have:

Goalies--Hasek, Osgood (2)

Forwards--Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Filppula, Franzen, Samuelsson, Draper, Maltby, McCarty, Drake, Kopecky, Downey, Hudler (13)

Defense--Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, Lebda, Lilja, Chelios, Meech (8)

Hartigan, Ericsson, Stafford, and Quincey can be sent down to GR without having to go on waivers, the others cannot. So unless the Wings are prepared to possibly lose a player for nothing, Ericsson won't stay in the lineup.

Meech, as some have already said, is making a strong case to stay in the lineup on a regular basis.

That would be true if the limit weren't gone after the trade deadline. Teams don't have limits. Ever hear of someone on waivers during the playoffs? That's because they don't exist.

As an addition to this discussion generally, if you want to see how confident Babcock is with his defensemen:

Against Edmonton:

Lilja: 24:38 (2:13 in OT)

Quincey: 18:27 (:34 in OT)

Meech: 27:19 (2:48 in OT)

Lebda: 27:41 (2:39 in OT)

Stafford: 5:01 (0 in 3rd or OT)

Ericsson: 19:16 (1:46 in OT)

I think this is a very meaningful statistic, especially now, because it shows how much confidence Babcock has in his 5-11th defenders. When the game is on the line, Meech and Lebda got the most time (if it were any normal game, all of this time would have went to Lidstrom, Kronner, Cheli, Rafalski). When it wasn't, they still logged the most time. Lilja ran behind both of them. That tells me that Stuart replaces Lilja's size, Meech replaces Lilja's minutes.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Anomalously

[Z and D for the C 712]

Let's see what this Ericsson kid can do by giving him playoff time much like what Lebda got 2 years ago against Edmonton.

Yeah and what happened then... =/

Edited February 27, 2008 by Z and D for the C

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

i'd go with Ericsson . he has alot of potential . he's good enough and the only way he'll get better and gain experience is by playing him. out of the rest take your pick.

[FinWing 26]

I'm happy with Ericsson's development so far but I think Meech should be in front of him in the pecking order.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Ericsson's time will come. I still he think he needs further AHL time to develop. With the way Lebda and Lilja have been playing though, I wouldn't have a problem with Meech or Ericsson starting over them once everyone is healthy.

[Lidstromrules16 7]

Ericcsson has been playing good. I like how he moves the puck in our own zone with the other team is forechecking. I remember I forget who took a run at Ericcsson last night, and he bounced off of him and Ericcsson made the play. nice to have a guy with his size.

With that said, Meech has impressed me a hell of a lot. He has improved greatly over the last 3 games. I mean, he took 8 shots last night, 2nd to only Sammuelson, but Meech had better scoring chances that Sammy. I really like Meech's offensive awareness. Soooo i say

Lids-Raffi

Kronnic-Stuart

Cheli-Lebs>Meech>Lils

and play Meech on 2nd PP with Kronnic instead of Sammy on point

keep Erriccsson in the AHL for the playoffs so he can gain some more experience, as he would no doubt get more icetime there.

[Majsheppard 203]

Ericcsson has been playing good. I like how he moves the puck in our own zone with the other team is forechecking. I remember I forget who took a run at Ericcsson last night, and he bounced off of him and Ericcsson made the play. nice to have a guy with his size.

....

keep Erriccsson in the AHL for the playoffs so he can gain some more experience, as he would no doubt get more icetime there.

Meech has been playing better, Ericsson is playing well. Neither really wowed me as they both make costly mistakes. So does Lebda and so does Lilja. I think over the long run they will both be great players but in the short term I want experience.

Ericsson has years left of being protected I believe....

I figure if Lilja or Stuart doesn't resign he will be in next year, yet if they both do he may play another year in GR. Never a horrible thing.

Best thing is these guys can play so now I know we have several guys to try if things get ugly in the playoffs. I am a fan of playing who matches up better. Lebda for speed, Lilja for size etc.

I have never been more confident of the future of the organization. As it stands I believe we will have the means to field an amazing team even after Lidstrom eventually retires....(in hopefully 74 years)

[joshy207 156]

That would be true if the limit weren't gone after the trade deadline. Teams don't have limits. Ever hear of someone on waivers during the playoffs? That's because they don't exist.

You're right, I forgot the roster limit ends at the trade deadline. I knew it wasn't around for playoffs... Thanks.